Restaurants in Sandy Springs

Taverna Fiorentina's authentic cuisine speaks passable English to taste buds of American descent, although its accent is strong enough to convey extreme deliciousness no matter what it's saying. Begin a romantic dinner on the sidewalk patio with an antipasto board for two ($22) before cranking up the Italirator with a pasta dish, such as the orecchiette with Italian sausage and broccoli ($16). Vegetarians can satisfy their green tooth with unmeaty offerings, such as the ravioli gnudi, stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese, and served with cherry tomatoes and parmigiano cheese ($16). Meanwhile, diners terrified of iron deficiency can sate their savory side with a slab of rib eye topped with caramelized onions and served aside fried polenta and broccoli ($24). Unlike stodgy desert-island chefs, Taverna Fiorentina's chef will be happy to accommodate your dietary needs and restrictions, including gluten-free entree preparation, upon request.

Named after the Japanese word for happy, Genki Noodles & Sushi captures the feel-good delicacies enjoyed by owner Reid Zeising during his childhood in Tokyo. Reid now oversees three locations that dish out a signature menu of traditional and experimental sushi rolls, tuna specialties, and Japanese barbecue bowls packed with grilled meats or tofu mixed with noodles or rice. In many dishes, classic flavors of spicy tuna and fresh water eel mingle with unusual additions such as parmesan cheese or mango.

Though each location sports its own distinct décor, all three locations glow under flat screen TVs and the blue light of fish tanks populated by ocean critters and a merman trapped in the body of a hermit crab. The Virginia Highlands location mingles exposed brick with a covered outdoor patio replete with breezy fans.

We take root from an Eastern European creperie chain The 12 Months founded in 2002. We use high-quality ingredients that we wrap in our original crepes like a burrito but they're so much more flavorful and tasty that it adds a new flavor and a twist to any popular filling. Crepes are always fresh and made to order.

Robert Gayle, the executive chef at and owner of Chef Rob's Caribbean Cafe, combines his Caribbean background with a Culinary Institute of America education, gathering flavors from around the world to refine a menu of island comfort fare. After spending his childhood in Jamaica and the West Indies, Chef Rob relocated to the United States and began to develop his culinary lobe at age 13 by working as a steward in Brooklyn. His skills and prestige steadily increased over time, allowing him to eventually open P. Diddy's Atlanta venture, Justin's Restaurant, in 1997 and prepare meals for such celebrities as Jennifer Lopez and Akon. Chef Rob's mental rolodex includes recipes for curried goat, dry-rubbed spare ribs, and his signature spicy jerk seasoning, which he massages into mesquite-grilled chicken. For lighter nighttime fare, diners can convene in the newly opened Chef Rob's Upscale Lounge for hookah, top-shelf cocktails, satisfying tapas, and signature wines. The contemporary furniture completes the swanky atmosphere.

Siam Square is to Bangkok what Times Square is to New York—a place full of trendy shops, four-star hotels, and gourmet food. The folks at Siam Square Thai Cuisine want to bring the essence of that spot into their restaurant, but they don't rely on the chic decor or panoramic photographs of the square that hang around the dining room to do it. It's the menu's contemporary take on traditional Thai dishes that truly embodies Siam Square's hip, urban vibe. Chefs grill freshwater prawns to top with Pa-nang curry reduction and sprinkle with kaffir lime leaves, or they roast half-ducks, fry the skin to make it crispy, and apply a tamarind sauce galze. All their curries and stir-fries can be made with chicken, tofu, pork, beef, or shrimp, and there are vegetarian options upon request. Noodle dishes include traditional pad thai, spicy drunken noodles, pad-woon-sen (stir-fried clear noodles), and pad-see-eew (wide rice noodles served with broccoli and egg).

To handle the heat of a spicy curry, diners can order red and white wine and sake, or pick from a beer selection that includes SweetWater brews as well as Thai and Chinese imports. Diners can also sip thai iced tea or coffee as they linger in the modern dining room, which features red accents that pop against cream walls.

Colorful instruments erupt with sound as belly dancers twirl and shake their bejeweled torsos to the musical beats. As the dancers weave between tables, some diners remain enraptured by the show while others carry on intimate conversations with their companions. Along with belly dancing on Friday and Saturday night, Fanoos Persian Cuisine hosts flamenco music and dancing by performer Calo Gitano on the first Sunday of each month.

In the kitchen, cooks flit about with the same merriment as the dancers. The owners fondly remember the Persian flavors that highlighted their youth and commemorate these recollections with a menu replete with familiar and lesser-known Mediterranean dishes. Steaming platters of shish kebabs and veggie-rich stews served alongside beds of rice round out the menu and complement spirits and international bottles of wine.